here’s who I am ...

As a professor of ethnomusicology at the College of Fine Arts School of Music at Boston University, my work has led me into a unique confluence of music, culture, and politics. I specialize in the intersections of music and medicine in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as broader concepts of queer theory and drag cultures. In particular, my book Singing for Life: HIV/AIDS and Music in Uganda examines the vital role music, dance, and drama play as medical interventions in Uganda’s ongoing struggle with HIV/AIDS. This work explores how communities have leveraged art forms not only as cultural expressions but also as lifelines in their fight against a devastating epidemic. A great honor of my career came with the release of the recording “Singing for Life: Songs of Hope, Healing, and HIV/AIDS in Uganda,” a CD I produced with Smithsonian Folkways. I was nominated as the producer of this album for a GRAMMY in the “Best Traditional World Music” category, indicating the enduring power of music to transcend cultural boundaries and serve as a vehicle for change. Currently, my research focuses on socially conscious popular music, particularly in the context of queer global identities. I am exploring how music serves as a tool for expression and resistance within marginalized communities worldwide. In addition to my research, I recently co-edited a volume titled Queering the Field: Sounding Out Ethnomusicology, published by Oxford University Press, which critically examines how queer theory can be applied to the study of music. Through these projects, I aim to expand the boundaries of ethnomusicology and create spaces where marginalized voices can be heard, where music serves not only as a means of artistic expression but also as a form of social commentary and activism.